Another exciting week in Serie A left Dave Taylor with a tough job of picking his best XI from the latest round of games.

Sebastien Frey [Genoa]

Made several crucial saves including two from Claudio Marchisio, one which was an Exocet that he palmed out from under the bar. Also stopped blockbusters from Pepe and Andrea Pirlo to keep his first clean sheet for 15 games. Praiseworthy.

Ignazio Abate [Milan]

Controlled the right flank and pushed forward at every opportunity forcing the pace all match. Played more like a winger than a defender, but never forgot his real role while causing trouble every time he crossed the half-way line. Perspicacious.

Paolo Cannavaro [Napoli]

So efficient that his tremendous displays every week have started to become accepted as normal, but the captain is never complacent. Perhaps could have stopped one goal but showed his versatility with a perfect header of his own. Priceless.

Walter Samuel [Inter]

Back to his wall-like self and closed down the host's strike force before they had a chance to do any damage. Displayed all his old skills when climbing above Chievo'sdefence to head home from a corner. Psychic.

Daniel Portanova [Bologna]

Kept the normally lively MiroslavKlose quiet, including an early crucial block. Authoritative in the air then on the ground displaying a striker's predatory instinct when knocking in a rebound from the 'keeper. Pernicious.

Jose Angel [Roma]

The Spanish terzino was forever pushing down the left flank, getting beyond the Palermo defenders, sending over several smart crosses and keeping his opposite number on the back foot with his anticipation and awareness. Precise.

Walter Gargano [Napoli]

Moved with the freedom of an eagle and alongside Hamsik worked magic in midfield. Showed a perfect example of his all-round awareness by being in exactly the right spot to slot home EdinsonCavani's superb assist. Prestidigitating.

MarekHamsik [Napoli]

Combined defence splitting runs with an attacking prowess and opened the scoring by easily spinning past DanieleConti, before unleashing a guided missile of a shot into the bottom right hand corner from 25 yards. Phenomenal.

Alessandro Diamanti [Bologna]

At the heart of everything and menaced unmercifully with shots, free-kicks, then exemplified his awareness with a cracking goal. Also won the corner for the first and his free-kick helped Rene Krhin score the third. Poised.

EzequielLavezzi [Napoli]

Scored one, had two assists and was literally everywhere. Set up Cannavaro from a dynamic free-kick. Then forced the own goal, while he also earned and coolly converted a penalty which almost burst the net. Peerless.

Joaquin Larrivey [Cagliari]

The Argentine certainly lived up to his nickname of El Bati with a stunning Gigi Riva-like hat-trick of headers. Mobile and threatening and got into several menacing positions and may have scored more if not for Cannavaro. Prodigious.